Improvement in carriage-top plates



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. DEARBORN, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CA-RRlAGE-TOP PLATES.

Specification forming part of Leiters Patent No. 146,660, dated January 20, `184; application filed December 13, 1873.

To all whom it may concer-u:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. DEAnBonN, of New Bedford, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in CarriageTop Plates, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specication, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of a side view of my device. Fig. 2 is a View of the same applied. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of my device.

This invention has relation to torni-plates for buggy and carriage tops, described in my Letters Patent No. 144,069; and it consists in providing such form-plates with a groove or marking-line, in the direction of the longitudinal curvature of said plates, as hereinafter more fully described. The object of this invention is to facilitate the cutting and fitting of the adjacent edges of the top and side leathers, where they are brought together at the bends, to be secured by seams.

In the ordinary method of cutting and fitting the top and side leathers, as there is no guide, the curve of the seam is apt to be imperfect and unsightly, varying from the true curve of the top. And, unless fitted by the most experienced workmen, the seam is apt to be short in same places and full in others. These dinieulties arise from the threefold curvature of the bend, along the middle line of Awhich the leathers are brought. together and the seam formed, and they are designed to be obviated by the use of these guide-forms.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the bows of an ordinary buggy-top.

B represents the top-leather, and C the side leather, of one side. D indicates the formplates, which are secured to the bows at their bends, and over which the leathers of the side and top are drawn toward each other. ,Each A plate is provided, along its middle longitudinal line, with a guidennark, e, corresponding in curvature with the top, and consisting of one or more grooves, beads, or perforations, adapted to guide the end of a marking tool or point-er. This guide-mark is located preferably at the central line of the bend, and eifectually prevents errors in cutting and fitting the leathers of the top and sides together.

In using the guide, the leathers are respectively drawn well over the mark c, and a marking-tool is run upon the leather and along the depression, thereby forming in the leather a crease-mark or series of depressions, which serve as a sufficient guide for properly shaping the curved edge. As the edges of both top and side leather are creased by the same guide-mark e, when they are cut and brought together over the bend of the top, their edges will be found accurately adapted to each other, the seam will be upon a true curve, and the leathers will be evenly strained.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The form-plate for buggy-tops having a guide-1nark, e, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. DEAEBORN.

lVitnesses:

GEORGE E. UPHAM D. D. KANE. 

